Responding to a journalist’s question about the periodic political bombast about Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) “being soon restored to India”, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi, aptly and tactfully, pointed out, that should the government desire such an “end state” or outcome, not only must the whole nation be prepared to go to war, but the armed forces must also be adequately “empowered” or equipped for such an ambitious undertaking.

Given this backdrop, the question arises: What is achieved by often heard rhetoric of this kind — whether in the context of PoK or the bizarre notion of Akhand Bharat (Greater India)? Is there insufficient appreciation at the political level that short-sharp revanchist wars of territorial conquest/re-conquest are no longer possible? And are we oblivious of the fact that such belligerent statements, even if meant for electoral gains, evoke deep resentment amongst our neighbours and impose a diplomatic cost?

An early indication of this strategic myopia came in December 2001 after the Pakistan-inspired terror strike on Parliament. India’s unprecedented general mobilisation involving its million-plus armed forces, was met by Pakistan’s counter-mobilisation, resulting in a tense, eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation. Anecdotally, it has been said, that when the Army chief asked for specific orders about the “end state” desired by the government, he was told at the highest echelon: “Baad mein batayenge” (you will be told later). A year later, both sides de-mobilised, with no change in the security situation, and the Army chief no wiser!

This seemed to be an affirmation of former Prime........

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